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Wednesday Journal, April 26, 2017
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O B I T U A R I E S
Ruth Dear, 103
Pacifist, deeply committed social justice activist Ruth Stamm Dear, 103, of Bethesda Rehab and Senior Care of Chicago and a longtime former Oak Park resident, died in her sleep on March 31, 2017. She had celebrated her 103rd birthday in January with RUTH DEAR friends and her niece, Karen Stamm. Born in 1914 in New York City to immigrants Anna and Simon Stamm, she went to Hunter College, majored in languages, was active in radical student movements, and met her kindred spirit, George Dear, then a Princeton University student. They moved to Chicago in 1937 and married in 1938. He worked for U.S. Steel’s South Works plant and became a leader in the Steelworkers Union local. She was a pacifist, influenced by Gandhi, who began her long association with peace movements by participating in one-day strikes for peace based on the Oxford Peace Pledge. She opposed World War II and was one of a small group who protested every Sunday at Chicago’s Washington Park Open Forum in the free speech area that had been established by court order. Her civil rights activism began in the 1940s in Hyde Park and in the mid-1950s, she was active in Circle Pines Center which was a cooperative camp in Michigan, and in the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE). She was active in Women Strike for Peace, Women for Peace, and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. In 1963, she traveled to the Soviet Union for an international peace meeting attended by women from North Vietnam. As the war in Vietnam escalated, she joined the Chicago Area Draft Resisters (CADRE). Upon moving to Oak Park in 1974, she joined the newly formed Oak Park chapter of the
Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home
Since 1880 Family Owned & Operated Charles Williams, Owner/Funeral Director 203 S. Marion St. Oak Park 60302 708/383-3191
War Resisters League, helped organize Metro West Peace Center, and the annual Hiroshima Day Observance in Scoville Park. She participated in the Chicago Pledge of Resistance which opposed U.S. intervention in Central America. She worked for women’s and older people’s liberation with Women Mobilized for Change, Citizens for a Democratic Society (an SDS support group), and the Gray Panthers. She had a weekly radio program for Gray Panthers, but also covered other topics of interest, for example, women’s health and abortion rights. She published articles that appeared in the Nonviolent Activist of the War Resisters League, WIN Magazine, and Hyde Park Kenwood Voices. Her political memoir, You Can’t Not Do It: The Journal of an Older Activist, was published in 2001. A prolific writer and correspondent, her journals, peace organization publications and notes, and her letters are collected as the Ruth Stamm Dear Papers at The Women and Leadership Archives of the Gannon Center, Loyola University Chicago. Ruth Dear spent a lifetime engaged in political movements for economic and social justice. She picketed, protested, demonstrated, and practiced civil disobedience to challenge racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, gender, and age oppression. At the age of 73, she was jailed for her protest of militarism and nuclear proliferation at the Arlington Heights military base in August 1987. A memorial celebration of her life will be held on May 7 at 3 p.m. in The Grove’s Midrise Community Room, 7757 Van Buren St. in Forest Park. Memorials may be sent to Third Unitarian Church or to the American Civil Liberties Union. For information, contact Leah Shapiro, 708-218-2102.
Mary Ann Bednarke, 75
Realtor, gardener, cyclist, tennis champ Mary Ann Bednarke (nee Krupa), 75, of Oak Park, died on April 18, 2017. She was the wife of the late Leonard S.; mother of Alexander L. Bednarke; sister of Raymond; and the daughter of the late Roman and Barbara MARY ANN BEDNARKE Krupa. A broker with Baird & Warner for 14 years, in her early life, she was a competitive tennis player who won the All City Tennis Championship three years in row in the early 1960s. She had many interests including gardening and was an avid cyclist who enjoyed many biking trips in France. Private services have been held. Arrangements were handled by Forest Park’s Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home.
Anthony Rocco, 82 Former Oak Park resident
Anthony M. Rocco, 82, a Chicago resident who lived in Oak Park from 1966 through 1983, died on April 17, 2017. Born on Jan. 13, 1935, he is survived by his sister, Marlene Carey; his children, Cathleen Rocco, Christine Rocco and Michael Rocco; his grandchildren, Emily, Hanna and Christopher Rocco, Erik Brunemeier, and Elise and Olivia Sedlack; and his companion, Marilyn Rizzuto. He was preceded in death by his parents, Josephine and Michael Rocco, and his brother-in-law, Dennis Carey. A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, April 28 from 11 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., then Mass at Oak Park’s St. Giles Church, 1045 N. Columbian, followed by cremation rites and private interment.
Jean Williams, 85 Family, friends, food, slots and arts & crafts
Jean Klis Williams, 85, died on April 12, 2017. She passed quietly while at Villa Scalabrini Rehab Facility in Northlake, after a brief struggle with complications following a surgery. Born on Christmas JEAN WILLIAMS Day 1931 in Chicago, she was the daughter of John and Mary Klis. Family, friends, food, being quick-witted, playing the slots, and arts & crafts were Jean’s passions. She loved people. If you needed a friend, she’d find you and make you her friend. She loved nature, African violets and butterflies. Many of her friends and family have one of her handmade crocheted afghans, a necklace, or a butterfly that she made. She kept herself young with her sense of humor, which would often have her smiling and laughing with those around her following a funny story or a quick-witted observation on things in everyday life. One day she forgot her keys in her front door. Her friend found them and when she told Jean, her immediate reply was “I left them there so my boyfriend can get in!” They laughed and laughed. That was Jean. In 1950, Jean married the love of her life Ralph M. Williams, a union that lasted for an extraordinary 60 years until his death in 2010, and they were blessed with 20 descendants whom Jean is survived by — four children, Christine Everett-Frantonius in Forest Park, Mark Williams, Jeffrey Williams, and Ralph Williams; 10 grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren. She is also survived by her only sibling and brother, John Klis.
There will be a celebration of Jean’s life at Casa San Carlo Retirement Community in Northlake on Thursday, April 27 from noon to 2 p.m., and later a private ceremony for family.
Donald Moravec, 71 Educator and coach
Donald W. Moravec, 71, died on April 21, 2017, surrounded by his family and close friends. Born on Jan. 22, 1946 in Berwyn to Joseph V. and Wilma B. Moravec, he married Eliza Moravec (nee Keating) on May 1, 1971 in Oak Park, DONALD MORAVEC and they lived here for 46 years. He began his career at Downers Grove North High School, spanning more than three decades as a physical education teacher, football coach, wrestling coach, girls’ badminton coach, girls’ tennis coach, and, finally, as dean of students. He received his B.A. from North Central College, obtained his M.A. with an emphasis in Communication Science from Governors State University, and was awarded his Ph.D. from the University of Sarasota in Florida. After retiring in 2001, he worked for his wife’s company, Keating of Chicago, where he wore many hats. He led a very spiritual life, serving as a faithful vestry member and senior warden of Christ Episcopal Church in River Forest. He also coached a very successful Women’s Tennis Team at North Central College for many years. Enjoying life to the fullest, he had many hobbies which also kept him very active. He took annual fishing trips to Canada, went on golfing and skiing trips, and enjoyed spending weekends with his family and friends, especially his two granddaughters, at his summer home on Lake Michigan. He will be remembered for his loving nature, his laugh, and his ability to make others happy. Donald Moravec is survived by his wife, Eliza; his children, Christopher (Amy) Moravec and Eliza Ann (Kevin) Pate; his granddaughters, Ellenore and Charlotte Moravec; his brothers, Edwin A. (Susan) Moravec and Rev. Dr. Joseph C. (Joy) Moravec; and his numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Richard J. Moravec; and his niece, Jennifer M. Moravec. Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. on April 29 at Drechsler Brown & Williams, 203 S. Marion St. in Oak Park. There will be a memorial service on April 30 at 3 p.m. at Oak Park’s Grace Episcopal Church, 924 Lake St., followed by a reception at Cheney Mansion, 220 N. Euclid Ave. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates your donation to the Don Moravec Tennis Memorial Fund at North Central College.